Assistive Technology

Assistive Technologies Information

Aids/Equipment/Technology/Computers -Our assistive technologies links page, including more web accessibility resources

Technical Glossary from the University of Toronto - Includes resources and information for all kinds of assistive technologies, from Braille displays and other hardware peripherals, to writing software, text-to-speech systems and other accessibility software.

Working Together: Computers and People with Learning Abilities - A resource on how hardware and software can be used to help students with learning disabilities. (provided by University of Washington's DO-IT program)

Working Together: Computers and People With Mobility Impairments - People with mobility impairments demonstrate computer access technology. (provided by the University of Washington's DO-IT program)

Working Together: Computers and People with Sensory Impairments - People with visual and hearing impairments demonstrate computer technology for school and work. (provided by University of Washington's DO-IT program)

Columbia University Digital Humanities Center

(formerly the Electronic Text Service)

Telephone:(212) 854-7547
Email:  DHC@libraries.cul.columbia.edu
Website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/ets/

DHC, located in 305 Butler Library, is a research and instructional facility of the Columbia University Libraries designed to help Barnard and Columbia faculty and students incorporate computer-based textual and bibliographic information into their research, study, and teaching.

DHC has machine-readable primary source texts, software programs for textual analysis and critical editing, hypermedia and database research tools in the humanities, bibliographic database management programs, IBM and Macintosh microcomputers, and optical scanning equipment for the creation of machine-readable text.

The DHC staff will provide demonstrations, workshops, and classes for students and faculty, as well as individual consultations.

Scanning Procedures at the DHC
 

Model IT/Accessibility Policies

OregonState University's policy

Universityof Washington's policy

Software

JAWS Screen Reader quick reference guide for new users of JAWS software to get started quickly with editing, reading documents, and browsing the internet. JAWS allows users with visual impairments to use a computer by reading aloud the text on the screen.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking quick reference guide for new users of Dragon software. Dragon is a dictation program to allow users to write papers and emails or take notes by speaking rather than typing. Some users of Dragon have mobility impairments or repetitive stress injuries aggravated by typing, while others simply prefer to dictate instead of using a keyboard.

Assistive Technology used by DO-IT Scholars - A list of assistive technology grouped by disability. Includes contact information for all software listed.  (provided by University of Washington's DO-IT program)

Web Accessibility

Aids/Equipment/Technology/Computers

Abledata
From the website: ABLEDATA provide objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources.

Apple Accessibility in Education
Information about the products and services Apple offers to strive for Universal Accessibility on Macintosh computers, with a focus on students and educational products.

Chronicle.com Article
"Colleges Focus on Making Web Sites Work for People With Disabilities"

DO-IT
Do-IT is a program at the University of Washington that serves to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers.  It has a lot of resources on making technology and the web accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Duxbury Systems (Braille Embosser)
Develops Braille translation software for the blind and visually impaired.

EnableMart
Online retailer for hundreds of assistive technology products, categorized according to disability and/or equipment needs.

Equal Access to Software and Information
Website for the premiere provider of online training
on accessible Information Technology for persons with disabilities. Includes information about upcoming events and their online courses.

Freedom Scientific (Publisher of JAWS)
Offers products for individuals who are blind, have low vision, or have learning disabilities. Includes screen reading software, braille displays, notetakers, PDAs, and magnifier software.

Harris Communications
The one-stop source for products for deaf and hard of hearing people. Offers products from consumer electronics to DVDs to baby items.

Inspiration Software, Inc.
Develops visual-learning based software including mind mapping programs for students and educators.

Kurzweil Education Systems
Offers Kurzweil 1000 and 3000 scanning and recognition software. Built-in voice synthesizer makes print books accessible to visually impaired individuals with the help of a scanner.

Maxi Aids
A large online store with products designed for those with vision, mobility, or hearing impairment.

Microsoft Accessibility
Tutorials on making Windows software more accessible, products and services offered by Microsoft, and articles on assistive technology for individuals and businesses.

Nuance, formerly Scansoft, Inc. (Publisher of Dragon NaturallySpeaking)
Develops speech recognition software, as well as scanning, imagine and document conversion applications.

Telesensory Corporation
Sells video magnifiers to help people with low vision read and see detail more easily.

Web Accessibility Initiative: Getting Started
Basic information for people who are new to Web accessibility

Web Accessibility in Mind
Information on Web Accessibility conferences and lectures.

WebABLE
Offers information on disability-related internet resources.